February 11 - The Seventh Seal (pt. 1)

February 11 – The Seventh Seal (pt. 1)
Revelation 8:1-13

“When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” (Rev. 8:1-2)

It finally happens, the Lamb opens the final seal. We’ve waited and waited and bam!!! Nothing! Actually, it is more than nothing – it is a complete cessation of everything. Total silence. Can you imagine it? I can’t.

I think that the only people who have experienced complete and utter silence (other than the deaf) are John Glenn and others who have landed on the moon. No leaves rustling, no birds singing, no motors running … nothing moving at all. Pure silence.

This silence lasts for half an hour. I don’t know that I could have stood still for that long! John didn’t record his thoughts, but I would have been processing like crazy; wondering what was coming next, examining all the people in the throne room, trying not to make a sound as I shifted on my feet and then praying that the itch on my nose would go away.

There are two possible reasons for this silence. The first is a bit fanciful. What if everything were to halt in heaven so that the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:3) could be heard? That’s kind of powerful, but doesn’t flow well with the text. There is silence. Then the angels are given the trumpets. It is more likely that this silence anticipates what is to come, like a calm before the storm. Sometimes silence is more effective than crashing thunder and explosive lightning.

When the Lord appeared to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-13, Elijah experienced a great wind shattering the rocks and tearing the mountains apart. He then faced an earthquake and a fire. The Lord finally came to him in a gentle whisper.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

In silence, we find God. The chaotic nature of our lives drives us to insanity sometimes. We find it nearly impossible to quiet our spirits down so that we can hear God. But, God is there in the silence, waiting for us to hear Him.